Before award-winning chef Jeff Michaud ever opened the doors of his acclaimed Philadelphia restaurants, he spent three years in northern Italy as a culinary apprentice to master butchers and chefs, immersing himself in the culture and cuisine of the old country. It is safe to say that he never anticipated the romance that would ensue. 'Eating Italy' is a delicious, funny, and mesmerizing spin through the boot, teaching true heirloom techniques and telling Jeff 's culinary and personal love story (he met his wife when she came into the restaurant one night for dinner, and to this day, he hasn't forgotten what she ordered).Part inventive cookbook, part travel narrative, each chapter of 'Eating Italy' explores a village or town in northern Italy, unveiling the unique culinary and cultural experience it has to offer. The reader experiences his journey from "Paladina: The Butcher's Apprentice" to "Trescore Balneario: Our Big Italian Wedding" in dishes like Apricot and Chanterelle Salad, Swordfish Pancetta with Fennel Zeppole, Pheasant Lasagne, and Blood Orange Crostata with Bitter Chocolate. Each authentic recipe serves to mark his professional growth, learningfrom some of the most skilled chefs in Italy. Vivid photography of Italian culture, people, and landscapes are dispersed throughout, allowing the reader a glimpse of northern Italia from a kitchen far away.

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Review

The recipes in Michaud's book are set in a winning narrative (crafted by food writer David Joachim), affecting accounts of his awe and delight at the markets and cafes and haunts he visits.”The Philadelphia Inquirer

Eating Italy is a reminder that cookbooks are not just collections of recipes. Sure, when it comes down to it, replicating the warm beef carpaccio with roasted mushrooms that is often a special at Alla Spina is a draw, but diving into Michaud’s culinary journey is just as appealing.”Philadelphia City Paper

Go on a virtual journey with Michaud by delving into his new book, Eating Italy: A Chef’s Culinary Adventure.”InStyle

An impressive collection of Italian cookery, Michaud employs the best of Italian fare in his recipes while amorously sharing his poignant journey of the heart that inspired them. Eating Italy illuminates beautifully the enchantments found in its food, landscape, and people.Joe Bastianich, renowned restaurateur and winemaker

Jeff has created a wonderfully fun and refreshing Italian cookbook which takes you on a journey through his formative years as a cook to the chef he is today. His recipes are updated for the times and are also super-delicious!” April Bloomfield, Michelin-starred Executive Chef of The Spotted Pig, and author of A Girl and Her Pig

I once had the privilege of a long afternoon lunch outside of Bergamo with Jeff and Claudia, Mark Vetri, and all the aunts and uncles. After an amazing lunch of boar salumi, crispelle, meat grilled on the hearth, and polenta, a nap was in order. Jeff's mother in law covered me with a zebra-print blanket, and I slept and dreamt of the amazing lunch and of Italy's incredible bounty. As I page through eating Italy, I am instantly transformed back to that country house, where my eyes were truly opened to the elegance of true simplicity. In Eating Italy, Jeff has created a roadmap that explores the rustic, creative, and simple elegance that is Italy!”Paul Kahan, Owner and Executive Chef of Blackbird, avec, The Publican, Big Star and Publican Quality Meats

We devoured Eating Italy! Jeff Michaud's storyhow a restless, New Hampshire-born sous-chef launched himself on a tour of Northern Italian towns as a stagier to butchers and brilliant Michelin-starred chefs and ended up meeting the love of his life-- has the triumphant, lyrical spirit of Frances Mayes. And Michaud’s recipes for robust, simple, refined dishes, like Pheasant Lasagne and Grilled Sardines with Celery Salad, pack the avuncular, precise instructional force of the greats: Hazan, Bastianich, and Batali. Lovers of Italy and cooking will find this volume totally irresistible.”Matt Lee and Ted Lee, authors of The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen

A great restaurant just doesn't pop up. It is built on the gastronomic history of its chef. In EATING ITALY, Jeff Michaud takes us along on his culinary awakening journey, and the result is a vivid tour of Italy's gems with brilliant recipes born from his wonderful eating adventures.”Nancy Silverton, Los Angeles restaurateur and author of The Mozza Cookbook

If you cannot go to Italy, go to Philadelphia! Jeff Michaud's cuisine is the real deal. . . and so is he. You can taste his passion, which is why I am a regular customer. This book explains how he got there. I enjoyed the ride, minus the jet lag!”Marc Summers, Host of Unwrapped and Executive Producer of Restaurant Impossible

Jeff is one of the country’s great young chefs. His love and knowledge of not only the food of Italy but also its culture is unmatched. EATING ITALY is his love letter to the country he has so much passion for. Reading this beautiful book with its wonderful pictures and recipes was like being there with him. There is nothing like a trip through Italy, but this book will get you close.”Michael Symon, Iron Chef and restaurateur

Jeff and I have become good friends over the past few years. Reading his simply delicious new book EATING ITALY helped me truly understand why we are friends. We both adore the northern region of Italy: Cinque Terre, Barbaresco, Alme, and Venezia. Jeff's book is the first of its kind that not only captures the spirit of this incredibly rich culinary region, it also quite frankly embodies the excitement of tartuffi bianci, bold, roasted meats and poultry, and the impossibly intricate pastas that are so terrific and intrinsically northern. This is a love story not just about food and wine, but more importantly a personal one: Jeff found both his passion and his wife in Italy. Not bad for a boy from New Hampshire.”Jonathan Waxman, New York chef and owner of Barbuto

About the Author

Jeff Michaud is chef and co-owner at Osteria Restaurant, Amis Restaurant, and Alla Spina, all in Philadelphia, and a partner of the Vetri Restaurant Group.&nbsp He is also a member of the Vetri Foundation for Children board of directors.&nbsp In 2008, The James Beard Foundation nominated Osteria for Best New Restaurant and in 2010, Jeff won the James Beard Award for Best Mid-Atlantic Chef. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Claudia and their daughter Gaia.

Food writer David Joachim has authored, edited or collaborated on more than 35 cookbooks, including multiple IACP award winners, James Beard award winners, and 'New York Times' Bestsellers. His 'A Man A Can A Plan' series of books has sold more than 1 million copies. He lives near Philadelphia.

Most helpful customer reviews

My folks took a trip to Italy and loved the food. I figured this would be the perfect gift. The pictures are beautiful, the recipes are tasty and the narrative ties the recipes together. Good gift for foodies.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

Amazon.com:
14 reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Great recipes and storiesNov. 16 2013

By
Ed
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover
Verified Purchase

The stories in the book are as good as the recipes. I'm no chef, but I made one the fish dishes for a family party and it turned out awesome. Of the 3 pounds of halibut and 2 pounds of mussels I prepared none remained after dinner. This is a great reading book for even those who don't want to cook anything (even though you totally should!).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Great Story, even better CookbookOct. 31 2013

By
Anthony C. Dimarco
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover
Verified Purchase

This is an inspirational story of a chef honing his passion throughout his experiences in Italy. Cookbooks are usually one-sided recipe listings, Eating Italy engages the reader with a history behind the food creations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Gorgeous book for he/she who really appreciates food ...Dec 14 2013

By
Mark Leone
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

If you are an aficionado of cookbooks for their ease of use, amazing photography, theme, physical heft, and content (obviously) ... you need to add this to your culinary library. Immediately.

Honest, delicious, creative, unique, interesting, approachable recipes ... with a beautiful story behind each of them. Each of them will make you a better, more enlightened, more capable cook. This is the story that every chef (and frustrated chef, like myself) wants to live. To venture out to a distant land (in this case, Italy ... what else is there??) to discover real food, real cooking, and life as it was meant to be lived. It's the story of a chef who was introduced to the two loves of his life (wife and food), and the people and places who played match-maker in each of those love stories.

Chef Michaud cooks with his heart first, and his hands second. I know this first-hand. If you take your own cooking seriously ... and I imagine if you're considering purchasing this book, you do ... do yourself a favor and buy this beautiful culinary tome. Lay it down on a coffee table as art, or allow it to be splattered with extra virgin olive oil and smudged with flour (I suggest the latter). Either way, go on an amazing journey with this chef, and let "Eating Italy" be your guide.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Really great story and recipesFeb. 11 2014

By
S Barnes
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover
Verified Purchase

I enjoy cooking as much as I do learning and meeting peoples in different places around the world. Italy is one of my favorite places, especially the northern parts. The book Eating Italy is as much about how we become part of a place where we find ourselves, as much as it is about a love story, as much as it is about the wonders of cooking.

If you are just looking for some recipes, you will miss out on the essence of this book. If on the other hand you would like to enjoy a great tale of transformation and love, then you will love this book.

I rated this book 5 stars because of the great story, but more so because cooking is about journeys, love and because when we cook we give a part of ourselves to those who eat our preparations. Life is about journeys and this is one fantastic tale of one of those journeys.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Eating ItalyOct. 22 2013

By
Lyndsey
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

Eating Italy is not just a cookbook full of wonderful recipes but it also interwines the story of love between a man and a woman, as well as the Italian cities and countryside. The book incorporates well placed and detailed photos in the narrative that helps me visualize what the author describes. I'm not much of a cook, but after reading this book I can't wait to try some of the recipes. I hope the author is able to follow up this book with something of the same quality, but maybe featuring different ethnic foods. After buying my copy, I purchased a copy for my mother as well and she loved it!